My latest big project after Avatar, took me a whole year to plan and 2 months to construct.

Here is the story:

When i was a little girl my parents took me to see live mermaids at Weeki Watchi Springs in Florida. I was so enchanted that since then i was obsessed with wanting to be a mermaid. Over the years i "grew out" of the dream thinking it was not possible until i came upon a blog called MerNetwork.com.Its a comunity of mermaids and fans like me! There i learned how easy it actually was to make a realistic tail.

So i began saving up, the whole project cost me around $500.00.The tail is linned with neoprene (dive suit fabric) and has an exterior skin made of special fx grade rubber latex. Inside the fluke is a large monofin that helps me swim with somewhat ease.

The shoot was done at a small island called Culebra off the coast of Puerto Rico.

I am the model and designer of the entire costume, it was all made by me.Photos taken by Romualdo Fraticelli

The one thing that I'm curious about is how it's so... Low? Usually there's a gaping issue with tails set so low on the body and have to be made to hug the waist tightly. I am currently getting a tail made by Raven (Merbellas) but I do want to make tails for my friends and have made tails for myself. I just usually have to go about it at the waist.

It was allot of trial and error but the way to do it is to have an elastic sewn on the inside in order to obtain the proper stretch and allow it to hug the hips. I never liked high waist tails personally, but for a silicon or latex tail its near imposible to make it a hip hugger unless you get a body cast. Lycra or neoprene tails can be made in this way because you can stitch the fabric to hug your hips easily, you can use a sewing pattern for a pair of hip hugger jeans, thats how i learned how to do it.

Everything you need to know on how to make tails can be found on Mernetwork.com! Its a huge source of information reguarding everything mermaid.I also make mermaid tails on comission if you are interested, send me an email! ilo.ocean2@gmail.com

The whole get up looks very well thought out and put together. The colours on the tail make it feel more realistic and give it an exotic 'fish' look, while the top with the sea-shells and other small details, just make it into a believable attire for a mermaid. Looks good!